The legacy of Rupert Murdoch and Donald Trump

Monday, House Oversight Committee issued A letter Line drawing of a naked womanit seems that Donald Trump’s signature replaces her pubic hair. The letter also includes a fictional conversation between Trump and the late pedophile Jeffrey Epsteinhas been included in a book on Epstein’s fiftieth birthday in 2003 and was handed over by Epstein’s property after Congress requested. Its publication seems to prove Wall Street Journalwhich one Reported the July letter. At that time, Trump angrily denied that such documents were true. Say he asked personally Rupert Murdoch, journal Owner, intervention; Murdoch said, Murdoch said he would “take care of it”, but the newspaper was imminent, and Trump then sued Murdoch. It’s not that the letter prompted Trump to retreat. The White House reiterated the claim that Trump never signed, suggesting it will support handwritten analysis to prove a lot. Better than yourself Tell NBC This letter is a “death problem”.

Probably not. But, as I’ve seen, there are more important stories on Monday alone – including those involving Murdoch. Over the past few years, he has been locked in the Hollywood style succession fighting Involved by his four children – Lachland, James, Elizabeth and Prudent, the children between them own equal shares in a trust fund that controls Murdoch’s global media business. Murdoch clearly believed that James’ politics was relatively free, and his sisters would join the rock conservative Lachlan and set out to soften and even end, the right-wing direction of the empire. Murdoch attempted to change the terms of the trust (even if it should be more or less irrevocable) to control Lachlan’s control; other children raised legal challenges. Following the secret and rococo process, they won. So Murdoch and Lachland bought them. Monday, announced James, Elizabeth and Prudential $100 million Essentially, walk away. Senior Murdoch scientists liken news to dramatic season ending,,,,, And pull Murdoch “A rabbit from his hat.”

To sum up, these two stories seem to be contradictory. The publication of Epstein’s birthday book is a major development in the tense legal battle between Murdoch and Trump. However, by ensuring the true goodwill of the right of the Murdoch empire, Mudoc made Lachlan the heir, especially Fox News, which undoubtedly rebounded, which often represented Trump propaganda. There are various potential explanations for this difference. this Magazine Fox may share an owner, but he allows them to develop a different audience and sensitivities. this journal The editorial board, though reliable conservative, is not afraid to give Trump a bloody nose and his newsroom (though maybe, maybe, Conservative in a subtle sense) conducted a strict report that embarrassed the president. (Even before Trump took office for the first time, Magazine This breaks the story of payments to the former playboy Model Karen McDougal. ) Murdoch probably just likes a dirty spoon. His relationship with Trump has long been ambivalent, or at least love-hate.

I think all these theories have the truth. But with talk about Murdoch’s legacy now spinning, none of them—no Epstein’s lawsuit itself—should cover up how much Trump’s efforts to promote Murdoch and how much Murdoch has done to promote Trump. Ultimately, their relationship should be remembered not as one of the occasional confrontation, but as a constant rate of reciprocity. Not that we have to see the season’s ending.

The story of Murdoch and Trump’s relationship is undoubtedly full of colorful insults. Trump announces that he will run for president in 2015, New York shortly after era Describe them as a pair of conflicting giants And it was reported that Murdoch regarded Trump as a “fake.” During that campaign, Murdoch was both privately skeptical of Trump’s odds and sometimes ignored his policies, especially his nativist stance on immigration. Once, Trump accused Murdoch of tweeting about his “evil” things. Author Michael Wolff later wrote that during the transition after Trump’s victory, Murdoch branded him as a “fucking idiot.” (Murdoch denied that.) Four years later, after Trump’s efforts to take power reached an uprising, Murdoch told a friend that he wanted Trump to be “non-human.” He appears to support Ron DeSantis as a challenger ahead of the 2024 Republican primary. When that didn’t work, he reportedly lobbying Trump to choose anyone other than JD Vance as his campaign companion. (It didn’t work either.) After Trump filed the Epstein lawsuit, he asked Murdoch to testify quickly, based on his unusual reason at the age of ninety-four and may “cannot conduct personal testimony at trial.” this era Talk about conflict again Titan.

However, during the same period, there was more warm evidence between the two. In 2016, Murdoch finally joined the Trump Train. The second year, era Reported They talk often, and Murdoch would try to lift Trump when he fell, a relationship that was “deeper and longer” than most of Trump’s life. Trump’s denial after the 2020 election may have disturbed Murdoch, but he later admitted that he did not stop various Fox stars from endorsing Trump’s lies. (Murdoch Inspired a more embarrassing revelation of Trump’s mushyness. As of late, they are still talking.

This broader difference can also be explained. I Before writing Murdoch had both weather and checked predictions – in other words, shaping public opinion while also predicting or following it – these double impulses were key to understanding how he worked. he yes Has a huge influence, but he has never been as omnipotent as some of his critics. Murdoch himself seems to have recognized this all the time. In his home country, Australia, and then in the UK, he supported politicians, who he considered friendly to his interests and, crucially, looked like he won horses – including liberals such as former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. When Trump proved popular, Murdoch came. As Jane Mayer Written in this magazine, 2019he benefited from several favorable regulatory operations during Trump’s first semester.